1)
Place your baptismal font in a central, visible location and
keep it there!
As people of Word and Sacrament, baptism is central to our identity
as disciples of Jesus Christ. Placing the font in a central
location is crucial to pointing us to the on-going call to live
out our baptismal identity. Some congregations may choose to
place the font at the entrance to the sanctuary as a reminder
that we enter the Church through the waters of baptism. Other
congregations may choose to place the font at the front of the
sanctuary to connect font, table, and Word as the central spaces
of Christian identity.
2) Pour water into your font and keep it
full.
Baptism is more than a one-time event; it is a journey into
the life of discipleship and faith. A dry font is one sign of
a congregation that does not expect growth. Our Directory
for Worship speaks of water as one of the “primary
elements of life” that the Church uses as basic symbols
of God’s covenant promises (W-1.3033). Water in the font
is a basic way to keep baptismal imagery before us each week.
3) Renew your baptismal vows with a service
of re-affirmation of the baptismal covenant.
Beginning the year with a service of re-affirmation of baptism
is a significant way to model faithfulness in responding to
the message of Jesus’ baptism. Our Book of Common
Worship includes a liturgy particularly for this occasion
(pp. 464–471). When the service includes a re-affirmation
as well as the Lord’s Supper, then we gain a glimpse of
the wholeness that our Directory for Worship suggests
when it speaks of the “integral relationship” between
Word and Sacrament (W-2.4008).
4) Make use of your font during each service.
Engage and interact with the font in order to show its central
connection with the liturgy. As worship leaders prepare and
reflect on the liturgy, it is helpful to keep the central places
of liturgical action clearly in mind: pulpit/lectern, table,
and font. Discovering ways to lead from each of these spaces
points to the fullness of Word and Sacrament at the center of
our faith. For example, offering the confession and pardon from
the font is one way to regularly demonstrate that our on-going
conversion grows out of the waters of baptism.
Baptism of the Lord Sunday offers us the opportunity to follow
Jesus from the baptismal waters of the Jordan through his journey
to Jerusalem, and to celebrate the good news that God is bringing
forth new life among us. |
